Valve for well testing tools



Feim 1954 M. o. JOHNSTON 9 79 VALVE FOR WELL TESTING TOOLS Filed Aug. 28, 1951 FIG-2 I N V EN TOR. Maw/:4 0. ./0//N57'0N Patented Feb. 2, 1954 UNITED STAT-ES ENFI VALVE FOR 'WELL TESTING TOOLS Mordica' '0. J ohnston,...'Glendale, Calif.

Application August 28, 1951,.SerialNo.I-2 44;0 78

' 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an oil well tool and particularly to an 'oil well tool adapted to be incorporated in a formation tester or similar device.

Although the present described in connection with a formationtester, the invention-is not intended to be necessarily limited to such use.

In making formation tests, it is usual practice to lower a formation tester into the well and.

seal. off or block off the well bore or casing with a packer carriedby the formation tester. so as to separate the lower testing zone from the upper wellfiuid. .Itis also usual practice tothereafter open the formation tester to the formation zone and take a test of the connate or formation fluid by entrapping a body of this fluid within the formation tester.

It is a'main object of the present invention .to provide a simple and inexpensive tool for carrying out the above operations.

It isa more particular object of the present invention to provide such a tool having a tubular housing slidably but non-rotatably receiving a tubular mandrel,. said tubular mandrel having the lower end thereof laterally ported to provide valve ports, which ported portion is adapted. to be projected from within the walls of a small bore into a large bore for the purpose of admitting formation fluid to within the tubular mandrel, and then to be retracted to within the walls of the smallbore to close the valve ports and entrap a connate sample within the tubular mandrel and thedrill string thereabove, which tool also includes a strong compression spring disposed between the tubular mandrel and housing normally operable to position the tubular mandrel anclhousing with respect to one another'so as todispose the valve ports in closed position, but which spring can be compressed'by a partial imposition of .the weight of the drill string on the tubular mandrel to thereby project the ported portion of the mandrel.

Normally, the interior of the formationtester is at approximately atmospheric pressure, whereas the pressure of .the formation zone. is normally very high, therefore, the formation fluid obviously jets into the formation tester at an extremely high velocity.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tool as above described in which the lower end of themandrel below the ports carries packing for sealingly engaging the .walls of. the small bore, and which .tool. further .includes means disposed within. the large boreforoproinvention will be tectin -zthe apacking means against Lthe eroding effects of the highvelocity. fluid' jetting into the :tubularmandrel through the .ports.

Variousother objects wil-l-be-apparent from the following description taken connection withthe accompanying drawingsin which:

Fig. l:.-shows a-formation tester having the novelfitool of the .present invention incorporated therein. 7

Fig. 2 .isan enlarged longitudinal central section through the .tool of the present invention, being. taken-generally along line 22 of Fig. 1.

. Fig. 3- is-a-view similartor Figc 2 but showing the valve-portsof the .tubularmandrel as having been projected so as to allow formation fluid to enterthe tubular mandrel.

, Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 5--5 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, Fig. 1 discloses a. formation testerof the type shown inthe patent to M. 0. Johnston2-,073,lll7, grantedMarch 9,..19'3'7, and entitled Well Testin Method and App ratus Therefor, the formation tester disclosed inlFig. rendering-"in the respects to be named hereinafter.

Thev formation tester :disclosed in Fig. 1 is similar to the formation tester. disclosed in the above-identified patent in that the formation tester in Fig. .1 includesat itsupper end a trip valve generally:.en-tit'led 9.--adapted to be opened by a ,go-devil. dropped downathe drill string, and an equalizing valve generally-entitled II disposed below the trip valve. and adapted toallow well fluidto bypass a packer l3 whenthe tool is being 'Referring to Figs. '2lthrough 5,- the novel tool of the present invention includes a tubular mandrel generally entitled. H which slidably extends intoa tubular. housing comprising a sub IS, a pipe section 2 l -,.and a retaining nut 23 threaded ly connected together as shown. TSHII'OUIldiHg tubular mandrel I1 is a. strong compression spring 25 bearing against retaining nut 23 at its lower end and against a threaded collar 21 at its upper end. Collar 21 threadedly engages the lower end of a connecting sub 29 which is connected to the upper portion of the formation tester. The upper end of tubular mandrel I1 also threadedly engages connecting sub 29 as is clearly shown in Fig. 2. Suitable set screws 3| may be provided on collar 21 to hold the collar in any position of adjustment relative to connecting sub 29. By adjustment of collar 21, the force exerted by compression spring 25 can be regulated. 1

Tubular mandrel I1 is slidably but non-rotatably received within sub I9 by having keys 33 formed thereon which are received withinkeyways formed in sub I9 (compare Figs. 2 and 4). Keys 33 are adapted to engage the lower end 23a of retaining nut 23 when the tubular mandrel I1 is moved upwardly relative to sub I9 to limit upward movement of the tubular mandrel relative to the sub, and are adapted to engage the lower ends I9a of keyways 35 to limit downward movement of tubular mandrel I1 relative to sub I 9.

Keys 33 and keyways 35 establish a rotary drive between the drill string through tubular mandrel I1 to the drill section 2| and the parts therebelow, particularly to the packer I3 to enable the packer to be manipulated by manipulation of the drill string in an effort to removethe same. Keys 33 and keyways 35 are always in engagement and, therefore, always permit a rotary drive between the above mentioned parts at all times.

Adjacent its lower end, tubular mandrel I1 is laterally ported at 31 to provide valve ports to admit formation fluid into the tubular mandrel when the ports are projected below tubular sub I9 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3. Normally, however, strong compression spring 25 is effective to move tubular mandrel I1 upwardly to a point Where keys 33 engage the lower end 2311 of lower retaining nut 23 to dispose ports 31 within the confines of th tubular sub I9.

The lower end of tubular mandrel I1 is closed by a downwardly opening spring-loaded circulation valve 39.

In order to prevent the leakage of fluid between the exterior of tubular mandrel I1 and the interior of the lower end of sub I9, suitable upper packing 4| and lower packing 42 are provided on the lower end of tubular mandrel I1. Preferably, this packing takes the form of rings received within annular grooves provided around tubular mandrel I1. When the lower end of tubular mandrel I1 is projected below the lower end of sub I9 into the large bore provided by pipe section 2|, such as by a partial imposition of the weight of the drill string on tubular mandrel I1, packing 42 will be exposed. As previously mentioned, the interior of the drill string and formation tester will be normally at a relatively low pressure, approximately atmospheric pressure, whereas the formation fluid below the packer I3 will be at a relatively high pressure. The fluid, therefore, jets at high velocity into tubular mandrel I1 through ports 31, said fluid having a high eroding effect.

To protect packing42 from this high velocity fluid, a sleeve-type cage 45 is provided and threadedly engages at its upper end the lower end of sub I9. Cage 45 is laterally ported at 41 and grooved at 49 (compare Figs. 2 and to'allow fluid jetting into tubular mandrel I1.

formation fluid to flow upwardly through groove 49 into ports 41, through ports 31 and into the tubular mandrel and upwardly into the formation tester and drill string.

As shown in Fig. 5, the external diameter of cage 45 is less than the interior diameter of tubular drill section 2 I, and, therefore, cage 45 slidably fits into pipe section 2|. The above construction of cage 45, therefore, leaves a sleeve or collar portion 5| disposed in depending relationship with respect to the lower end of sub I9 and adapted to surround packing 42 when tubular mandrel I1 is projected below sub I9 to a position where keys 33 engage shoulders I9a. Therefore, when the packing 42 is projected below sub I9, it is disposed within the confines of collar or sleeve portion 5| and therefore protected from the eroding effect of the high velocity formation It follows, therefore, that when the packing is once again disposed within sub I9, the undamaged packing will be effective to prevent leakage of formation fluid out of mandrel I1 and also prevent well fluid from entering the mandrel and contaminating the trapped formation fluid therein.

The tool of the present invention is operated in the following manner. The tool may be used in the form shown in Fig. 2 and merely connected at its upper end to the lower end of a, string of drill pipe or it may be connected in a formation tester as shown in Fig. 1. When incorporated in a formation tester as shown in Fig. 1, the tester is lowered into the well bore and the packer I3 set. A part of the weight of the drill string is then imposed on tubular mandrel I1 to compress spring 25 and project ports 31 below'the lower end of sub I9 and in alignment with ports 41 of sleeve-type cage 45. The packing 42 will be disposed within the confines of collar or sleeve portion 5| of sleeve-type cage 45, and therefore, protected.

A go-devil is then dropped down the drill string to opentrip valve 9 to permit formation fluid, which flows into anchor I 5 upwardly through the lower portion of the formation tester, through ports 41, ports 31 and into tubular mandrel I1, to flow up into the upper portion of the formation tester and into the drill string.

After a suificient time has elapsed to permit the entrapment of the desired amount of formation fluid sample, the weight of the drill string is relieved and the drill string removed.

It may be, however, that the packer I3 becomes tightly stuck in place and cannot be readily removed. In such a case, fluid may be pumped down through the drill string, through tubular mandrel I1 and out through spring-loaded valve 39, down through the lower portion of the formation tester, out through the perforated anchor I5 to the underside of packer I3 to urge the packer to unseat. By an upward pull on the drill string in combination with the upward fluid force against the underside of packer I3, the packer can be unseated.

p The present invention, therefore, provides an oil well tool by which a formation fluidsample can be readily taken by partially imposing the weight of the drill string on the tool to compress the strong compression spring and project the ported portion of the mandrel below sub I9 to expose the ports thereof. Thereafter, the sample can be readily trapped by merely relieving the Weight of the drillstring.

The present invention also providesfor anovel arrangement for protecting packing in the mandrel from the high velocity fluid jetting into the tubular mandrel.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An oil well tool, comprising a tubular nousing adapted to be fixed in a well bore and having an upper small bore and a lower large bore formed one above the other in said housing, a tubular mandrel slidably received within the small bore and being laterally ported adjacent its lower end and being normally disposed in a position with the ported portion disposed within the small bore, the lower end of the mandrel being closed by an upwardly urged downwardly opening check valve, whereby communication between the interior of the mandrel and the large bore may be established by supplying fluid under pressure to the interior of the mandrel, packing on the mandrel below the ports normally disposed within the small bore and sealingly engaging the Walls thereof, spring means urging the mandrel upwardly relative to the housing, whereby the ported portion of the mandrel can be projected into the large bore by forcing the mandrel downwardly relative to the housing against the resistance of said spring means, means for protecting the packing, when exposed, from the eroding effects of high velocity fluid jetting into the mandrel through the ports thereof, said means comprising a laterally ported cage disposed within and spaced from the walls of the large bore, carried. by the housing, and sealingly engaging the lower end of said mandrel, and means slidably but non-rotatably connecting the mandrel and housing to maintain vertical alignment between the mandrel ports and the cage ports so that when the mandrel is forced downwardly, the mandrel ports will be brought into registry with the cage ports.

2. An oil well tool, comprising a tubular housing adapted to be fixed in a well bore and having an upper small bore and a lower large bore formed one above the other in said housing, a tubular mandrel slidably received within the small bore and being laterally ported adjacent its lower end and being normally disposed in a position with the ported portion disposed within the small bore, the lower end of the mandrel being closed by an upwardly urged downwardly opening check valve, whereby communication between the interior of the mandrel and the large bore may be established by supplying fluid under pressure to the interior of the mandrel, packing on the mandrel below the ports normally disposed within the small bore and sealingly engaging the walls thereof, spring means urging the mandrel uplwardly relative to the housing, whereby the ported portion of the mandrel can be projected into the large bore by forcing the mandrel downwardly relative to the housing against the resistance of said spring means, means for protecting the packing, when exposed from the eroding effects of high velocity fluid jetting into the mandrel through the ports thereof, said means comprising a laterally ported cage disposed within and spaced from the walls of the large bore, carried by the housing, and sealingly engaging the lower end of said mandrel, said cage having grooves formed in the exterior thereof extending from the cage ports to the lower end of said cage to provide ready passage of fluid from the lower end of the cage to the cage ports, and means slidably but non-rotatably connecting the mandrel and housing to maintain alignment between the mandrel ports and the cage ports so that when the mandrel is forced downwardly the mandrel ports will be brought into registry with the cage ports.

MORDICA O. JOHNSTON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,126,641 Johnston Aug. 9,' 1938 2,197,078 McKinley Apr. 16, 1940 2,227,731 Lynes Jan. 7, 1941 2,326,867 Kinney Aug. 17, 1943 

